Eurasian smoke tree

The outstanding feature of Eurasian smoke tree is the large, airy, plume-like stalks that hold the small flowers. These pass through several color changes, often a smoky pink, and provide interest all summer. Eurasian smoke tree will grow as either a single-trunked tree or a multi-stemmed shrub. Although it may suffer from dieback in cold winters, vigorous stems bounce back to life in spring.

Cultivars and their differences

Nordine (Cotinus coggygria ‘Nordine’): One of the hardiest of the purple-leaf forms, selected from The Morton Arboretum collections; oval to slightly elongated purplish-red leaves hold color well into the summer and then change to an orange-yellow in the fall.

Royal Purple (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’): Leaves are dark purple in summer and red-purple in fall; 'smoke' is also reddish purple.